Home / Arts and Entertainment / Acclaimed 'Empire' and 'Riverdale' Writer Yolonda E. Lawrence Dies at 56
Acclaimed 'Empire' and 'Riverdale' Writer Yolonda E. Lawrence Dies at 56
16 Oct
Summary
- Yolonda E. Lawrence, writer and producer for 'Empire' and 'Riverdale', has passed away at age 56
- Netflix shows with "Black" in their titles dominated the streaming charts in the week of Sept. 15-21, 2025
- 'Beauty in Black' topped the overall streaming rankings with 1.35 billion viewing minutes
In a tragic loss for the entertainment industry, Yolonda E. Lawrence, a renowned writer and producer for hit shows like 'Empire' and 'Riverdale', has passed away at the age of 56. Lawrence's contributions to these acclaimed series have left an indelible mark on television, and her passing is deeply felt by her colleagues and fans alike.
Meanwhile, the week of September 15-21, 2025, saw a surge in the popularity of Netflix shows with "Black" in their titles. Tyler Perry's drama 'Beauty in Black' captured the top overall spot on Nielsen's streaming charts, amassing an impressive 1.35 billion minutes of viewing time. This figure narrowly surpassed the previous week's 1.34 billion minutes, dethroning the popular series 'Wednesday' as the overall leader.
Closely following 'Beauty in Black' was 'Black Rabbit', starring Jason Bateman and Jude Law, which garnered 1.23 billion viewing minutes. The drama premiered on September 18 and quickly became the week's top debut. 'Wednesday' maintained its strong performance, finishing third with 1.02 billion minutes of viewing.
